Breckenridge Under Pre-Evacuation As Peak 2 Fire Grows
BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. (CBS4)- The entire town of Breckenridge was under pre-evacuation notice as the Peak 2 fire continued to grow on Wednesday.
Fire crews ordered air attack resources to fight the rapidly-growing fire. It was estimated at 80 acres in the early evening, and it is burning on federal land.
The fire was first discovered at approximately 11 a.m. by a mountain biker in the Gold Hill area north of Breckenridge in Summit County.
"At about 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. it really blew up," said Red, White, & Blue fire chief Jim Keating.
Evacuation notices went out to residents in the Peak 7 subdivision. That includes 476 homes and it is approximately 2 miles from the fire. Residents went to an American Red Cross shelter at Summit Middle School in Frisco and they were being allowed back into their homes Wednesday evening to collect belongings.
PHOTO GALLERY: Peak 2 Fire
"We've done a lot of wildfire evacuation drills in that area so residents are familiar with the process," said Joel Cochran, Summit County Undersheriff.
Smoke jumping teams were deployed to the fire as well as firefighting teams on the ground. Structure protection crews have also been stationed at homes near the fire.
The fire was burning in an area with mostly beetle kill trees.
"Some of the areas are really inaccessible," said Bill Jackson, a White River National Forest U.S. Forest Service district ranger.
Wheeler, Peaks, Gold Hill and Miners trails are closed and some roads are set to be closed in the area soon, according to authorities.
What caused the fire is being investigated.
A fire ban went into effect in Summit County on Wednesday.
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